OK…be honest…how many of you out there are taking the bus to work this month? All of you who commute in your SUV every day…have you jumped on the bus this month?
How many of you even know that the local bus system is free all month? My guess is no one, since I have seen no evidence of increased riders as I jog past 30 bus stops.
Now that you know it is free will you jump on it and use the system? My guess is no.
I used to ride the #3 bus (Belmont. Ever since the opening of the new transit center, the #3 bus has been running late. I can no longer rely on it to get me to UVA on time. I have a 7:00am clinical at UVA tomorrow, and I’m planning on walking b/c I know it’s very likely that I’ll be late if I wait for the bus and if I am late more than four times to clinical, I risk being expelled from nursing school.
I have always had to walk home to Belmont from UVA, and beat the bus every single time even though it is nearly a two mile walk. If the bus ran more than once an hour and was consistently prompt, I’d be riding it all the time.
I’ve been taking the bus to work and back for most of the past three weeks.
I usually ride my bike when I need to go up to UVA from Downtown, but the other day I decided to take the free #7. Well, I waited for 20 minutes, and every bus but the 7 and the Trolley came by. None of those others go to UVA. And the Trolley is supposed to come every 10 minutes. Sheesh. If I ride my bike: 15 minutes max. If I drive, usually 5 to 10. If I walk, 30. If I take the bus? It can take 45 minutes between walking to the stop (less than 5 minutes), waiting and travel time. Ridiculous.
If a bus route actually came out to the boonies of Gordonsville and beyond, I’d be the first one on it. I’d be very impressed when the local public transit extends 15+ miles out of the city and actually services all the way up Rt29N as far as NGIC.
Bus? With the rabble?
Dude, I drive a hybrid.
ZOMFG!! A hybrid! You deserve a medal! Do you and Al Gore carpool? I bet your farts smell like warm cinnamon rolls!
But seriously, they do get good mileage….
Nice to see you around Tree! You’ll have to email us and let us know what the hell you’re up to these days. Clearly playing it safe, and not riding the bus!
Actually, the hybrid gets around 40 mpg over a tank of gas. I used to have a non-hybrid that got 60 mpg regularly. What really sucks in CA is that I got the hybrid only to ride in the carpool lanes when driving alone, whereas my older car with the better mileage isn’t allowed to do this. It is ridiculous that the politicians decide to ‘pick a winner’ with the technology and therefore do the exact opposite of their goals. I would rather get the better mileage, but then I couldn’t drive the carpool lanes. So I’m actually less efficient than I could be, all due to the laws.
Ah…. I see.
So, you’ve been out in California for a LONG time. Do you consider it home now? Happy there? Should we start calling you the Californicator?
It’s home, more or less. I wouldn’t go back to Michigan…I prefer my local economy to be based on something other than a decaying auto manufacturing sector.
You guys interested in some sort of ski trip this winter?